Australia lose ODI series to England
Australia crashed to an eight-wicket defeat and a third straight loss against England to lose the one-day series after a below-par performance with bat and ball in Durham on Saturday.
Australia’s woes deepened as all-rounder Shane Watson and veteran fast bowler Brett Lee were both off the field receiving treatment for most of England’s innings having picked up injuries.
The diagnosis for the duo was expected later on Saturday.
England took an unassailable 3-0 lead with one match to play and registered their seventh straight one-day series win at home and their ninth consecutive win in 50-over matches.
Australia were always struggling having posted 9-200 from their 50 overs after being put into bat by England.
David Hussey top scored with 70 as Steven Finn wrecked their top order to finish with 4-37.
Ian Bell (69) and Jonathan Trott (64 not out) helped steer the home team through a comfortable run chase in reply to win with 13 balls to spare.
Australia’s bowlers could not get the same movement in the air or off the pitch as England’s bowlers had managed earlier.
Only Clint McKay with 2-29 from his ten overs impressed, after James Pattinson and Ben Hilfenhaus were earlier drafted into the team.
England reduced Australia to 2-6 as Finn had David Warner and Peter Forrest lbw in consecutive balls.
Shane Watson played on to Tim Bresnan for 28, George Bailey was bowled by Ravi Bopara for nine and skipper Michael Clarke laboured for 43 in 85 balls.
Hussey’s 73-ball innings ensured a competitive and he received useful support late on from Lee, who made 27.
Bell and Cook made might of their modest run chase by putting on 70 for the first wicket, when McKay had Cook caught at cover for 29.
Bell chopped on to his stumps off McKay having looked untroubled throughout his innings.
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July 8th 2012 @ 6:30am
Scarlet said | July 8th 2012 @ 6:30am | Report comment
Australia are a shadow of the great sides that they have been in the past and have been soundly tonked in this series. It is a great shame to see this side stumbling through the series where only the rain has saved their number one ranking.
July 8th 2012 @ 8:59am
Peter said | July 8th 2012 @ 8:59am | Report comment
Generation Y. Australia’s generation loser! Ah don’t worry just get another tattoo!!!
Tell me what it feels like to be dominated by mother England.
July 8th 2012 @ 9:05am
Matthew Skellett said | July 8th 2012 @ 9:05am | Report comment
Well that was a surprise NOT!!!!!!!!!
July 8th 2012 @ 1:49pm
Bearfax said | July 8th 2012 @ 1:49pm | Report comment
Couldnt have said it more succinctly myself. With this bunch, wait for the ashes contest.
July 8th 2012 @ 10:04am
Lolly said | July 8th 2012 @ 10:04am | Report comment
Finn bowled beautifully. He has a very good wrist position and kept the ball up to the batsmen while getting the ball to kick around. It was fantastic to watch. Our guys had the worst of the batting conditions but even so It was more good bowling than bad batting from the Aussies.
July 8th 2012 @ 12:36pm
Aware said | July 8th 2012 @ 12:36pm | Report comment
Finn is coached by David Saker, an Australian who played for Victoria. Looks like the merry-go-round of top coaches has gone to England. Can Australian cricket afford to send its best coaches overseas? Same thing happened in Tennis.
July 8th 2012 @ 10:20am
sean maguire said | July 8th 2012 @ 10:20am | Report comment
The conditions were a lot worse for the Australian conditions so I wouldn’t be too hard on them. Pattinson was dissapointing as I was looking foward to him bowling, only for him to start with a no ball that went for a four. He was a bit too full and looks like he needs a bit more time but looks like a genuine talent. He and Cummins look good for the future. You’re right about Bailey and Forrest, they are junk.
July 8th 2012 @ 10:25am
tonysalerno said | July 8th 2012 @ 10:25am | Report comment
Australia have been very disappointing during this campaign- the conditions have not helped and Stuart Finn was outstanding with the ball. I am still optimistic however they will not lose the series 5-0 because they have too much pride to be humbled by the old foe so handsomely.
July 8th 2012 @ 10:43am
sean maguire said | July 8th 2012 @ 10:43am | Report comment
I think we’re pretty safe there Tony after game 3 was washed out
July 8th 2012 @ 11:00am
Brendon said | July 8th 2012 @ 11:00am | Report comment
Disappointing is an understatement. Pathetic would be more accurate.
July 8th 2012 @ 10:27am
brendon said | July 8th 2012 @ 10:27am | Report comment
perhaps if we picked our best side it might help. 35 year old bowlers and batters that haven’t been to England before won’t cut it
July 8th 2012 @ 10:34am
Ben Carter said | July 8th 2012 @ 10:34am | Report comment
Saw most of the first innings and a bit of the second. Worst first-10-overs performance ever by Australia, apparently, in ODIs 2/15 was it?
I think it was Nick Knight on the SKYsport feed that wondered aloud whether Australia was actually playing as if it was a Test match… he wasn’t far wrong. Run rate of barely 3.00 for much of the morning, and stuff you usually see in district cricket – memo to the the top six in the Aussie batting order. You are selected to – primarily – make runs so the bowlers (a) don’t have to and (b) have something genuine to defend.
As irritating (and expensive with the ball) as I often think he can be, methinks that was not the first time yesterday for a Brett Lee ‘handy, useful, no mug with the bat’ cameo at the tail end of the innings. But it shouldn’t be up to him to prop up a total.
England undeniably bowled well in the conditions, particularly Finn. Nice to see we’re issuing a challenge to Afghanistan. And agreeing to play Pakistan in games that will finish at around 1.30am in mid-20s heat in the UAE. Brilliant (I am being sarcastic there, folks).
July 8th 2012 @ 10:46am
Behold said | July 8th 2012 @ 10:46am | Report comment
This was always going to happen when the selectors are picking a squad with one eye on the t20 World Cup and the other on the Ashes. If Australia had actually been focussed on this ODI series the squad would be a lot different but instead we see players like Forrest (potential test player) Lee (t20 bowling leader) Smith (fielding extradoinare with a fairly decent IPL) Warner (still not sure how they justify his selection in the team) Pattinson (Test bowler/proven ODI non-performer) Johnson (he has a contract so we might as well pick him) McKay (Never got a wicket with a good ball). If the squad was picked on available talent and solely for an ODI series only Watson, Clarke would be definite. Wouldn’t mind seeing a line up of – Khawaja, Quinney, SMarsh, Clarke, Watson, MMarsh, Wade, O’Keefe, Johnson, Cummins, McDermott (best death bowler in the country? Definitely in the Ryobi and close to it in the IPL) 12th Hauritz, D Hussey ( I like him and he performs on occasion for Australia but he is a touch old and I don’t see much of a future for him for Australia) Hilfenhaus (offers something different horse for courses type player in ODIs) Ferguson (picked mostly on his past record for Australia he is the long term replacement for M Hussey in the ODI team and possibly in the test team. Needs a huge summer in the shield and Ryobi)
July 8th 2012 @ 11:56am
Scott Adams said | July 8th 2012 @ 11:56am | Report comment
Just read on the ECB Website that they’ve allowed Australia to fly home today and are getting Bangladesh in to play the final ODI in order to have some stiffer opposition in the run up to the upcoming series with South Africa.